Didn't meet him but I had a sort of indirect connection with him. I was assigned Muhammad Ali in the 9th grade when tasked with doing a book report on an African American historical figure. Prior to that, I didn't know much and didn't think much of him outside of the fact he was clearly some sort of great champion before my time. After the report I became curious and watched his fights on YouTube. I got recommendations for his interviews and was surprised af his eloquence and how he took a stance that could've gotten him beaten or lynched in the wrong neighborhood. My respect rose tremendously after that for his courage and sincerity both in and out the ring. My dad met him at a conference briefly and it's a shame his condition prevented him from being able to talk and interact more in his older age.
My mom worked at the Federal Courthouse in Orlando. In 1987 he was there as a character witness in a trial that was being held there. During a break he sat down at the cafeteria and signed autographs for everybody who wanted one . My mom, God bless her memory, said my son loves you. Ali gave her an autograph. I prefer to remember him when he was young . He was so full of life.
I had a similar assignment in sixth grade (1968) We were allowed to choose our subject and I chose Ali. Unfortunately, my teacher said he was too modern and didn't really have historical significance. My second choice was baseball player Willie Mays. Teach again said no and assigned me American opera singer Marian Anderson.
Not sure about "only". If not for the Parkinson's Ali would be 81 today, that's the same age as the president.
He was a racist, misogynist, convert to a radical Muslim sect, and refused induction to the Army because it was against his faith. LOL did I mention he was a Muslim convert? Of course Muslims are against military activity. However, he certainly was the greatest and best HW of all time, and top 5 ATG on anyone's list.
I also grew up watching all of his fights and interviews. My interest in boxing stems directly from him. My father met him after Ali retired from boxing, became very good friends with him, and travelled all over the world with Ali for the span of a decade. His daily life consisted in doing good deeds for other people, whether it was meeting with foreign leaders, signing hundreds of autographs on the side of the street, or taking homeless people out to fine dinners and leaving them with a ton of cash in their pockets, etc. He did those things day in day out. My father has countless funny and heartwarming stories of his time with Ali, and they never get old. By his account, Ali was the most terrific human being he had ever met. Luckily we got to Facetime him a few weeks before he passed. He couldn't speak, but said 1000 words with his facial expressions.
His refusal of the draft was due to his membership in the Nation of Islam and black nationalism which had nothing to do with mainstream Islam or Muslims and 'military activity.' There's much that Ali can be critcised for but it would seem appropriate to know the basic facts first. He was also willing to pay the price for resisting the draft in terms of his career, his finances and freedom if it came to that. It ultimately contributed to his health problems. On that he had the courage of his convictions - and was right.
Even in mainstream Islam as in all religions it depends on one's understanding of it. One's understanding of it could lead a Muslim to oppose all wars not sanctioned by Allah. As to his characterization of Ali he wasn't a cardboard saint but most who have carefully studied his entire life would say he did more good than harm.